“Your family—”
“My father has other sons.”
“You are his heir.”
“I don’t want his lands or his titles.”
“Family is more than that. You have a responsibility—”
Darric grabbed her, one arm round her shoulders, one encircling her waist, and kissed her. She let herself return it, just for a moment, then pushed her face away.
“Stop it.”
She looked to the wolf, hoping he’d come snarling to her rescue. But he merely tilted his head, then turned and walked away. Darric’s arms were still around her. She planted both her hands on his chest and pushed.
“Let me go now, or you’re going in the well.”
He held her a moment, staring at her eye to eye, then released her and took a step back.
“You spoke truly, Hweilan. I do have a responsibility. To you. I love you, and whether you feel the same way or not, I won’t forsake you.”
Darric stared at her, his jaw working, waiting.
When no response came, he said, “And do you?”
“Do I what?”
“Feel … anything. For me?”
She wanted to escape, but that was the coward’s way. So she returned his gaze. “I don’t know, Darric. Right now … I only feel …” She searched for the word. There was only one. “Tired.”
A faint smile broke on Darric’s face, then disappeared. Hweilan almost missed it.
“It’s a lonely road, Hweilan. Do you want to walk it by yourself?”
He stepped forward, slowly this time, and held her. She buried her face in him.
“No.”
Cry of the Ghost Wolf Page 31
